On April 24, 2025, a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s threats to withhold funding from school systems that have diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, saying the actions ”raise the specter of a public ‘witch hunt’ that will sow fear and doubt among teachers.”

The preliminary injunction came in a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) in March 2025 by the National Education Association (NEA), its New Hampshire affiliate, and the Center for Black Educator Development (CBED). In their complaint, the organizations alleged an Education Department Dear Colleague letter (DCL) issued February 14, 2025 violates the Fifth and First Amendments, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act.

The April 24th ruling applies only to school systems receiving federal funding that employ or contract with the lawsuit’s plaintiffs or plaintiffs’ members. However, that covers NEA’s three million members along with the other plaintiff’s members.

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